1958 MacMinn Le Mans Coupe

A construction photo of the Le Mans Coupe by Howard Miereanu. In 2023, Miereanu, a former student and friend of MacMinn, recalled, "Mac was not only my instructor while I was a student at ArtCenter studying auto design, he was a great friend over the years." He spoke of MacMinn's unwavering commitment to his students, emphasizing how he would encourage them to think creatively and challenge the conventional boundaries of automotive design. These mentorship sessions, often extending to auto shows and intimate gatherings, allowed students to dissect and analyze the latest in automotive trends, fueling their passion and curiosity. Photo from The Howard Miereanu Collection.

Another photo of the Le Mans Coupe that Howard Miereanu took after Mac had the Fiberglass body finished. "It was one of the most exciting times for all of his students to see a design come from a sketch to fruition," Miereanu recalled, adding that the strips were only tape. Photo from The Howard Miereanu Collection.

Howard Miereanu fondly remembered the excitement that surrounded the creation of the Le Mans Coupe. "It was one of the most exciting times for all of his students to see a design come from a sketch to fruition," he noted. The unveiling of the finished Fiberglass body was a pivotal moment, not just for MacMinn, but for all those who had been part of the journey. Miereanu's personal collection of photographs and 16mm movie footage from Mac’s car at Riverside Raceway stood as a testament to these memories. Photo from The Howard Miereanu Collection.

Even though Mac designed the car, Howard never saw him driving it anywhere. "The first time I can remember the Le Mans car running under its own power was at Riverside Racetrack for the tuft test. After that, I graduated and moved to Detroit and GM." Photo from The Howard Miereanu Collection.

The Le Mans Coupe gained significant attention when it graced the cover of Road & Track August 1960. It was also a featured highlight in MacMinn's book "Sports Cars of the Future." The design received high praise from automotive journalists, with Robert Cumberford of Sports Car Guide magazine hailing it as "The most exciting sports car design constructed in the USA in years." Howard Miereanu was the cameraman who filmed the "tuft speed trial" at Riverside International Raceway while he rode in Mac's 120 Jaguar down the 1500 ft back straight. "This was lots of fun and very exciting to be part of this event."

Dennis Kazmerowski found a raw Le Mans Coupe body that had been kicking around California for over 63 years. "Sitting in the California sun, it had started to take its own shape," Dennis told Kustomrama in 2023. The body was very thin fiberglass and had to be reinforced inside before he could start building something. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

According to Dennis, it was exhausting to take the Le Mans Coupe from a raw body to a finished car in 24 months. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

During the restoration, the car was given a spot at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. "When the car was accepted to Pebble, I was in real trouble, knowing that if it did not make it, I would never have this opportunity again. As you know, the proper way to build a car is to put it all together and then take it apart and send it to the body shop for paint, and after paint—put it together again. Exhausting." Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

In August of 2023, the MacMinn Le Mans Coupe was shown in the "American Dream Cars of the 1950s" class during the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The class celebrated unique, limited-production cars built by remarkable individuals. These cars were designed and built in garages or local shops, not by big corporations. At the time, the car owned by Dennis and Karen Kazmerowski, John and Shannon Fudge, Califon, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

Photo courtesy of Roy R. Sorenson.

After its debut at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Le Mans Coupe was put on display at the Petersen Museum. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

The Le Mans Coupe was also invited to attend the Jay Leno's Garage TV-show in 2023. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

A photo of Dennis with Jay Leno. Photo courtesy of Dennis Kazmerowski.

The 1958 MacMinn Le Mans Coupe stands as a testament to the design prowess of Strother MacMinn, a revered figure in automotive design and education. Known for his influential role at the ArtCenter College of Design and his tenure as the Chief Honorary Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours, MacMinn's vision for the Le Mans Coupe was to create a car that could excel at the iconic Le Mans race while maintaining street legality.

Engineering and Performance

The engineering expertise for this project was provided by John Bond, the engineer and editor of Road & Track magazine. Under the hood, the Le Mans Coupe was powered by a robust Corvette V8, ensuring formidable performance both on the race track and the street.

Public Recognition and Acclaim

The Le Mans Coupe gained significant attention when it graced the cover of Road & Track August 1960. It was also a featured highlight in MacMinn's book "Sports Cars of the Future." The design received high praise from automotive journalists, with Robert Cumberford of Sports Car Guide magazine hailing it as "The most exciting sports car design constructed in the USA in years." Its timeless design continues to captivate, often leading onlookers to mistake it for a contemporary model.

MacMinn: The Educator and Mentor

In 2023, Howard Miereanu, a former student and friend of MacMinn told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that Mac was not only his instructor while he was a student at ArtCenter studying auto design, "he was a great friend over the years." Miereanu spoke of MacMinn's unwavering commitment to his students, emphasizing how he would encourage them to think creatively and challenge the conventional boundaries of automotive design. These mentorship sessions, often extending to auto shows and intimate gatherings, allowed students to dissect and analyze the latest in automotive trends, fueling their passion and curiosity.

The Creation of the Le Mans Coupe

Miereanu fondly remembered the excitement that surrounded the creation of the Le Mans Coupe. "It was one of the most exciting times for all of his students to see a design come from a sketch to fruition," he noted. The unveiling of the finished Fiberglass body was a pivotal moment, not just for MacMinn, but for all those who had been part of the journey. Miereanu's personal collection of photographs and 16mm movie footage from Mac’s car at Riverside Raceway stood as a testament to these memories.

Exclusivity and Legacy

Only five units of the MacMinn Le Mans Coupe were built, making it a rare and coveted piece of automotive history. The car's blend of sleek design, powerful performance, and dual-purpose functionality has secured its place as a notable and innovative creation in the world of sports cars. In 2021, Dennis Kazmerowski found a raw Le Mans Coupe body that had been kicking around California for over 63 years. "Sitting in the California sun, it had started to take its own shape," Dennis told Kustomrama in 2023. The body was very thin fiberglass and had to be reinforced inside before he could start building something. Dennis said it was exhausting to take the Le Mans Coupe from a raw body to a finished car in 24 months. The car was given a spot at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance during the restoration. "When the car was accepted to Pebble, I was in real trouble, knowing that if it did not make it, I would never have this opportunity again. As you know, the proper way to build a car is to put it all together and then take it apart and send it to the body shop for paint, and after paint—put it together again." In August of 2023, the restored Le Mans Coupe finally made its debut in the "American Dream Cars of the 1950s" class during the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The class celebrated unique, limited-production cars built by remarkable individuals. These cars were designed and built in garages or local shops, not by big corporations. At the time, the car was owned by Dennis and Karen Kazmerowski, John and Shannon Fudge of Califon, New Jersey. Howard Miereanu did not attend the show that year, but the emotional impact of seeing photos of a Le Mans Coupe at the Pebble Beach Concours, years later, was profound, bringing back a flood of cherished memories for Miereanu. After its debut at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Le Mans Coupe was put on display at the Petersen Museum, and it was invited to attend the Jay Leno's Garage TV-show.